This book examines how the moral sentiment of gratitude; as expressed in the image of the suffering soldier; transformed the memory of the Revolutionary War; political culture; and public policy in the early American republic. This popular depiction removed the stigma of vice and treason from the Continental Army; legitimized the army as a republican institution; and credited it with securing independence. By glorifying the now aged; impoverished; and infirm Continental soldiers as republican warriors; the image also accentuated the nation's guilt for its ingratitude toward the veterans. Using Peterborough; New Hampshire; as a case study; John P. Resch shows that the power of the suffering soldier image lay partly in its reflection of reality. The citizen-soldiers from Peterborough who fought in the Continental Army did indeed represent a cross-section of the town; and they experienced greater postwar deprivation and alienation than their peers who had not gone to war. Personal and political sympathy toward the veterans eventually led to the passage of the Revolutionary War Pension Act in 1818. The War Department further validated the soldiers' claims and public gratitude through its liberal administration of the pension program; which attracted more than 20;000 applications.
#1131762 in Books William Bradford Huie 1997-11-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .73 x 6.05l; .96 #File Name: 1557503796256 pagesCan Do The Story of the Seabees Bluejacket Books Series
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Unsung HeroesBy John SpahrWhile not an exciting book; it does an excellent job of bringing to light some of the unsung heroes of World War II. People tend to think of the War as a series of battles with infantry and artillery blasting and it is easy to overlook the tremendous efforts of the Seebees in building and preparing the buildings and roads and airstrips and communications and supply depots and mess halls.... and the list goes on and on. I gained a tremendous respect for the Seabees with this book and I recommend it to all.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy geneayerswhat i wanted thank you0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. SEABEE HistoryBy EOCLACOVery good book on why; how and things the SEABEES did. Written at the end of World War 2 (Fighting was still going on and plans for invading Japan) kept the author from telling somethings. References to Japanese as JAPS can problem turn some people off; but probably should remember what was going on in the world at the time it was written. Story about South Pacific natives and a goat was funny. I was a SEABEE for 27 years in the Naval Reserves and didn't know some of the things this book said the BEES did.
